"I love Mommy more, of course!" Mianmian answered without hesitation, hugging her mother's arm tighter.
Jiang Mi looked into her daughter's eyes, seeing an intense love for her. She recalled Mianmian as a newborn, so small and frail, her cries barely audible due to her weakness. Now, she realized she hadn't been a capable mother. During pregnancy, she knew nothing and hadn't provided enough nourishment, leading to Mianmian's delicate health from birth.
"Mianmian, if Mommy asked you to choose between me and Daddy, would you think Mommy is too cruel?" Jiang Mi felt compelled to ask this difficult question.
She and Jiang Jingxiu had a daughter, but they were not married. Jiang Jingxiu despised her, even wishing for her death, simply because she was no longer of use to him.
Even if she had loved Jiang Jingxiu before, now only hatred remained.
"Why choose? I want both Daddy and Mommy," Mianmian said anxiously.
Hearing her daughter's words, Jiang Mi understood her concerns were valid. Mianmian loved her the most, but she also loved her father, Jiang Jingxiu, dearly. Moreover, Jiang Jingxiu had been a very capable father over the years.
"But Mommy and Daddy aren't married, and we can't live together. So, will you spend some time with Daddy, and some time with Mommy in the future?" Jiang Mi thought this might be a solution.
The last thing she wanted was for her daughter to suffer emotionally. It seemed too cruel to ask Mianmian to give up her father, so she was the one who had to compromise.
"Mommy, why can't you marry Daddy? Daddy is a very good person. He's especially good to me, gentle and considerate. He will definitely be a good man in the future. Can you give him a chance?" Mianmian looked at her mother with anticipation, her eyes filled with trepidation.
"Mianmian, you don't understand adult emotions. Your father and I are impossible," Jiang Mi felt irritated whenever she thought of Jiang Jingxiu. After learning their daughter could be saved, he had cast her aside when she was no longer useful, even wanting her dead.
She would never give such a man another chance to harm her. She would never be fooled by him again.
Mianmian was truly disappointed. Was her dream to be shattered again? Her biggest dream for the past few years was for her mother to return and then be together with her father, so their family of three would never be separated.
But now, her mother was unwilling to be with her father.
However, it was alright. Her mother's return was enough for her. She couldn't be too greedy.
"Mommy, I'm already very happy that you're back. No, I'm very, very, very happy. It doesn't matter if you don't want to be with Daddy. As long as you're happy, Mommy, I've missed you so much." Mianmian nuzzled into her mother's arms.
Jiang Mi's heart melted, and at the same time, she felt guilty towards her daughter. But it was impossible for her to be with Jiang Jingxiu, especially since she now had a boyfriend.
That boyfriend was Ling Bo, a doctor.
It was Ling Bo who had saved her. Her injuries were much more severe than she had initially realized. Thus, Ling Bo had dedicated a lot of effort to her treatment. Later, after she had recovered, Ling Bo confessed his feelings to her. At that time, she truly needed someone to lean on, so she agreed.
As for love, Jiang Mi felt she didn't love him. But at least she was grateful to him. Grateful that he had saved her life, and grateful that he had kept her mother alive for her daughter, allowing her the chance to return and reunite with her daughter, continuing to dote on her little princess.